Started Program This Week

Hey everyone! Started my LPN program this week. We started out with 20 and 1 has dropped out so far. There is only 1 other guy besides me, so at least I'm not alone. We have covered 4 chapters of text so far and had our first clinical in a LTC facility. Is anyone else experiencing this fast pace in their program? If so, how do you feel about it? Are you comprehending all of the material? Also, my instructor is teaching us using the Power Point system, which I don't really have an opinion on yet, but I don't think I'm going to like it. Anyone feel free to share opinions or ideas if you have just started your classes. Thanks.

I hated that power point system but I was grateful that we had two nursing instructors who had the minds of doctors. But I had no time to get frustrated. Whatever any reasons came up that I hated, I had to find a way to cope with it. I can tell you that from the start, I was worried about the material on retaining what I was learning. In the beginning, its all about the wondering. In the end, everything will start falling into place. But you have to remember, that a person entering an accelerated program to teach a person to become a nurse in just a short time it's a crazy thought. My program was 10 months. OMG was I ready to call my doc for some anti-depressant meds. I was so exhausted I couldn't even cry. Only if the guys in construction knew what nursing is all about they would think twice when a male enters the field of nursing. (As I was questioned by everyone I knew) Two care plans due each Monday wasn't bad, but all the homeworks besides that like 6 drug cards, and med-surg cards for every diagnosis your client has. I stayed awake until 2am, and had to wake up at 5am because I had to car pool from Connecticut to NY just for school Monday- Friday. We left at times when it was dark and arrived home when it was getting dark. It was just crazy. But overall, I loved it especially clinical. Keep yourself focused, and TRY TO STAY AHEAD. Get the best out of your program because you won't forget the good times and bad. Luckily, I had my wife's support. Family support is the best.

Good Luck,
KAL

Sep 9, '05

Hi Kal. Thanks for the advice and for sharing a little bit of your student story. The novelty of being a nursing student has worn off and now we are so busy, I don't have time to think of anything else. We are covering a chapter per day and it is like a tidal wave of information, and the class is a little overwhelmed. I've become more at ease with the Power Point system and like it better now than I did in the beginning. My two instructors are really great at what they do. One of them is from Canada, so it is nice to have her expertise and point of view as well. We haven't started care plans yet, but for me it will be just another thing that is required to get me where I need to be in life. I try to keep my eye on the light at the end of the tunnel, so that keeps me motivated.

Thanks Again,
CSimonFan

Sep 11, '05

Hey Simon,
Well i just started nursing school (RN) here close to two weeks ago and we have had to read 6 chapters the first week. The schedule isn't that bad Monday and Thursday 10-2 and Wednesday 8am-12. Things have slowed down with the reading. About 2-3 chapters a week along with our wonderful skills lab. One exam done with. A skills test coming up next wednesday. Since this is fundamentals of nursing, the fast pace hasn't been as bad as i thought it would be. Our instructors give us the objectives for the chapters to focus on. Powerpoint...I've been taught using it for many years. I don't particularly like it or hate it. It just depends on what information is being given. We get the powerpoint presentation along with the presentation on paper so we can follow along and write down extra notes the instructor spits out. We have yet to go on our clinicals (5 weeks from now). My girlfriend is also there to push me. I love nursing school.

Med

Sep 11, '05

I just finished my first week of nursing school and by monday we are to have chapters 11,12,13 and 14 done! Our pace is much faster than what you described! I'm feeling overwhelmed. We have to read all of those chapters, write out the objectives for each chapter( about 20), then we have chapters that have to be read for lab. Then in lab we have objectives to write out, study guides to write, and of course quizzes and skill demonstrations. I don't know how I will find the time to do it all since I also work 20 hours a week. We haven't even started clinicals yet. For clinicals there's preliminary work that has to be done before we even get there.

How are you studying for Fundamentals?

Quote from Medwynn

Hey Simon,
Well i just started nursing school (RN) here close to two weeks ago and we have had to read 6 chapters the first week. The schedule isn't that bad Monday and Thursday 10-2 and Wednesday 8am-12. Things have slowed down with the reading. About 2-3 chapters a week along with our wonderful skills lab. One exam done with. A skills test coming up next wednesday. Since this is fundamentals of nursing, the fast pace hasn't been as bad as i thought it would be. Our instructors give us the objectives for the chapters to focus on. Powerpoint...I've been taught using it for many years. I don't particularly like it or hate it. It just depends on what information is being given. We get the powerpoint presentation along with the presentation on paper so we can follow along and write down extra notes the instructor spits out. We have yet to go on our clinicals (5 weeks from now). My girlfriend is also there to push me. I love nursing school.

Med

Sep 11, '05

Quote from rayofsunshine

How are you studying for Fundamentals?

Fundamentals seems like a review of Anatomy/Physiology, Microbiology, and my CNA class i took 2 semesters ago. I just go over the chapter objectives, review the chapter and the powerpoint presentation, and do the Chapters on the Fundamentals CD. Although the chapters on nursing process and critical thinking took some time to get down. The Prentice Hall Real Nursing Skills CD's are a godsend because they show you the procedures (i.e Inserting small bore NGT) in real video. They have good demonstrations on real people.